Lucy's Class Notes

Lucy’s group went to the Southampton African American Museum twice this month. The students started their first day with a digital tapestry. Using a visual and auditory device was the perfect way to get the students comfortable with the space because it allowed them to work at their own pace and, as my students put it, “feel like you were taken back into the historical time.” They learned about the connection between our local Southampton history and the Great Migration. They familiarized themselves with juke joints and the local Randy’s Barber Shop and how it symbolized a deeper meaning of community.

The second visit was inspiring as we explored their new exhibit, Black Power. The students explored each artwork through a game of bingo. As they read each description, they matched the correct artwork to a description on their paper. This activity kept the students engaged the whole time. They were learning about significant African Americans who have helped define Black Power and were also building reading comprehension skills, looking for essential details and ideas. It was a unique opportunity to learn about influential Black people through both informational descriptions and from an artistic view. Each artwork/installation provoked a much richer discussion, naturally expanding everyone’s perspective on what Black Power can be defined as.

Lucy’s group is also in the middle of working on a project with the Parrish Museum. They are working with an artist in residence, Brianna Hernandez. They are exploring the cultural and historical background of funerary artifacts. Students will then create their artifacts as celebrations of life and culture using materials of their choice! Stay tuned for their final creations!

Students began their Hayground Museum curation by brainstorming specific topics they would like to cover throughout the museum. We will work with people from the Watermill Center throughout February to understand the concept of collecting artifacts and how to imagine a provided space as a museum. They will treat their classroom as a blank canvas and curate a museum over the next few months. Aside from mentorship for our museum, the Watermill Center will also introduce Clementine Hunter’s concept of marking memories.

Lucy’s group looks forward to continuing their mystery class reading and developing as writers as we begin to prepare for budding authors in April! — February 1, 2024